Overflow prevention device



June 15, 1965 J. BAUER OVERFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE Filed Jan. 15. 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 24V I I; 25

ATTORNEY June 15, 1965 J., BAUER I 3,189,039

OVERFLQW PREVENTION DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mil 5mm 0 SEF BA 1 June 15, 1965 q, BAUER 3,189,039

OVERFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-7.4

If 42 I5 l6 a I 4 l I 49 .39 W

50 53 Z/////////////////7 W m I 55 56 5 11M 55 1 ml]. 1

as I 5 1 60 l/w nvroe J0 SE F 84 U E R By MICHAEL s'. STRI/(EP,

ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflice The present invention relates to an overflow preven- -.tion device and more specifically to an overflow prevention 'devicefor oil tanks or the like.

Many heating systems use oil as a fuel and such heat- "ing systems usually include an oil tank arranged below the street levelot the building to be heated and to which oil is Supplied from an oil delivery truck through an inlet passage. Such oil delivery trucks are usually provided with an oil feed pump and a delivery hose adapted to be connected at its free end in a finidtiglit manner to the inlet passage of the .oil tank so that oil under pressure may be fed -by the feed pump through the delivery hose into the inlet passage of the oil tank and from there into the interior of the latter.

In order to use .the oil tank effioient ly, it is desirable to fill the tank .as high as possible, but, of course, care .must be taken that overflow of oil during filling of the tank must :be prevented under all circumstances, since such an overflow may lead to some dangerous condition. It ,is an object of :the present invention to provide for an overflow prevention device which will positively prevent overflow of oil from an oil .tank during its filling operation.

In oil tank arrangements of the type described it is also desirable to permit ,oil remaining in the inlet passage at the end of thefilling operation to flow into the tank after "the source of oil supply under pressure has been disconnected from the inlet passage.

It is therefore an additional object of the present invention to provide for an overflow prevention .device which will not only positively prevent overflow iOf oil from the tank during the filling operation, but which will also permit oil remaining in the inlet passage at the end of the filling operation, t'o-flow from the inlet passage into .-the oil tank-after the source of oil under pressure is disconnected-from the inlet passage.

It is yet an additional-object of the present invention to provide for an overflow prevention device of the .type

described which is composed of few and relatively simple parts so that the device can be manufactured at very reasonable cost and will also stand up under extended use.

With these objects in view, the overflow prevention .device according to the present invention includes pref- ..erably a valve chamber adapted to be mounted on an oil tank to be filled .up to a predetermined level, inlet passage means communicating at oneend thereof with the valve chamber and being adapted to be fluidtightly connected at the other end thereof to a source of oil under pressure, outlet passage means communicating with an upper end ,there of with a valve chamber and with a lower end thereof with the interior of the tank, valve means inlthe valve chamber movable from an upper open position spaced from the upper end of the outlet passage means to a lower .closed position in engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means for closing the latter, float means in the tank adapted to float on the oil therein, when the tank is filled nearly up to said predetermined level, and lever means connecting said fioat means with said valve means for holding said valve means and said float means in substantially balanced position as "long as the oil in the tank is far below the predetermined level and the float means will not float on the s an oil, and for moving the valve means from'the upper-open toward the lower closed position when the oil in the tank approaches the predetermined level and the float means floating on the oil moves upwardly to the predetermined levelp The valve means being arranged in the valve chamber so as to be under the influence 'of 'oil flow passing through the outlet passage means but of the valve chamber, so that the valve means in approaching the lower closed position will be suddenly moved downwardly by the dynamic pressure as well as by a suction action produced by the flowing oil into engagement with the upper end of the outlet passage means therebyclosing the latter while lifting the fioat means to .a certain extent out of the .oil in-the tank. As long as the source of oil .under pressure is connected to the inlet passage Ymeans, the valve means will be held by the static pressure of the oil in the valve chamber in the .closed posi- .tion, while when the source of oil under pressure is --disconnected from the inlet means, the pressure in the 'valve chamber will be released so that the valve means .is free ,;to move in :upward direction :and the :float means previously :lifted partly out of .the on in the tank will sink down under the influence of gravity .and thereby slightly lift the valve means from its lowermost closed position, so that oil contained .in the valve chamber and 'in the inlet passage means may flow-therefrom'intothe tank through the slightly opened valve.

The valve means may include asubstantiallyflat valve ,disc having a central valve stem fixedly connected at'an .upper end thereof to the valve disc and extending in substantially vertical direction downwardly therefrom, and guide means may be provided in the outlet passage m a s for sl d ng v gui n th alv -stem i a a s rection. I V n Instead of a hat valve disc, the valve means may include a ball preferably formed from oil-resistant compressible material.

The lever means preferably include a double-armed lever pivo-tally mounted intermediate its ends and connected at opposite ends thereof respectively to the valve means and to the -float means. The length of the two arms of the double-armed lever and the weight of the float means and the valve means are made in such a .manner that the weights substantially balance each other as long baffle means may also be arranged within the valve chamher between the inlet passage means and the ball of the valve means. The baflie means may be in the form of a plate connected with an upper edge thereof to a top wall of the valve chamber while the lower edge of the plate is arranged spaced from a bottom portion of thevalve chamber so as to form a gap therewith through which .sufficient oil may flow from the inlet passage means to the outlet passage means. The baffle means may alsobe in theform of a cylindrical wall substantially coaXially jar.- ranged with a cylindrical side wall of the valve chamber inwardly spaced therefrom and connected with an upper edge thereof to the top wall of the valve chamber and this type of baflie means may include a bottom wall spaced from the bottom wall of the valve chamber and being formed with a substantially central opening therethrough eoaxially arranged with the upper open end of the outlet means. In this case the ball of the valve means has to have a diameter which is smaller than the opening in the Patented June 15, 1965 bottom wall of the baffle means and which is larger than the upper open end of the outlet means.

The bafile means will prevent premature closing of the valve means in that when the ball is in its upper open position, the upper portion will not be subjected to the dynamic pressure of the oil flowing through the valve chamber and the bafile means will also assure a very smooth and even engagement of the ball with the upper end of the outlet means during the closing movement of the valve means, especially if the bafile means have a cylindrical side wall and a bottom Wall formed with an opening therethrough as described above in which case the oil entering through the inlet passage means is forced to flow radially from all sides to the open end of the outlet passage means and in which the ball of the valve means during the closing movement will have to break through the oil flowing evenly from all sides into the outlet passage means which considerably improves the slow and uniform contact of the valve ball with the upper end of the outlet passage means.

In order to release the valve chamber and the ball of the valve means from the relatively high pressure occurring at the moment of closure of the valve means, the ball may be formed according to another feature of the present invention with a peripheral groove arranged in a substantially vertical plane. A small amount of oil can flow through this groove between the valve ball and the outlet passage means of the valve chamber as the valve is being closed whereby the pressure building up in the valve chamber can be reduced. The groove is shallow so that the amount of oil flowing through this groove will be negligible and not lead to an overfilling of the tank.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned side view of an overflow prevention device according to the present invention mounted on an oil tank;

FIG. 2 is a partly cross-sectioned side view of the overflow prevention device shown in FIG. 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a partly sectioned side view of another embodiment of an overflow preventing device according to the present invention and showing also part of the oil tank on which the device is mounted;

FIG. 4 is a partly sectioned side view of a further embodiment of an overflow prevention device according to the present invention and likewise showing part of the oil tank on which the device is mounted; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the valve ball of the device of FIG. 4, drawn on an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings and especially to FIGS.

1 and 2 of the same, it will be seen that the overflow device according to the present invention may include a valve chamber 5 mounted on an upper portion of an oil tank 1 partly illustrated in FIG. 1. The valve chamber 5 has a bottom wall, a top wall and a side wall extending between top and bottom walls and inlet passage means in the form of an elbow 6 communicate with the lower end thereof through an opening formed in the side wall of the valve chamber 5 with the interior of the latter. The upper end of the inlet passage means 6 may be connected to a source of oil under pressure as will be described in detail later on. The bottom wall of the valve chamber is preferably fluidtightly connected to an upper portion of the oil tank 1 and the bottom wall is formed with .a central opening therethrough about which a ring 14 of oil-resistant material is arranged fixedly connected at the lower end thereof to the bottom wall of the valve chamber Cir 5 and having an upper open end located in the valve chamber 5. Ring 14 together with a pipe 13 extending with an upper end through the opening in the bottom wall of the valve chamber and through a corresponding opening in the upper portion of the tank 1 form outlet passage means communicating at an upper end thereof with the interior of the valve chamber and with a lower end thereof with the interior of the tank 1. The upper end portion of the tube 13 is preferably welded to the bottom wall of the valve chamber 5 as clearly indicated in FIG. 2, while the lower portion of the tube 13 extends downwardly into the tank toward the bottom thereof.

The top wall of the valve chamber 5 is preferably formed with an oval opening through which an upwardly curved portion of substantially hemispherical configuration 7 of a closure member extends which includes also a flange portion 8 located beneath the top wall and extending outwardly beyond the opening formed therein. An annular sealing means 9 formed from compressible oil-resistant material is sandwiched between the flange portion 8 of the closure member and the top wall of the valve chamber 5 and releasable connecting means are also provided for pressing the flange portion 8 against the annular sealing means 9 and the latter against the top wall of the valve chamber 5 so that the latter is fluidtightly closed at the upper end thereof. The releasable connecting means include, as shown in FIG. 2, a yoke member 11 engaging with opposite lower ends the outer surface of the top wall of the, valve chamber 5 and being formed in an upper portion thereof with an opening through which a bolt 10 extends which is fixedly connected at the lower end thereof to the upwardly curving portion 7 of the closure member while a nut 12 threadedly engages the upper threaded end of the bolt 10 which projects beyond the yoke member 11. It is evident, that by tightening the nut, the flange portion 8 of the closure member is pressed tightly against the annular sealing means 9 and the latter against the top Wall of the valve chamber 5.

Valve means are arranged in the valve chamber movable from an upper open position spaced from the upper end of the outlet passage means or from the upper surface of the ring 14 to a lower closed position in engagement with the upper end of the outlet passage means for closing the latter. The valve means shown in the modification illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 include a substantially flat valve disc 17 extending substantially parallel to the upper surface of the ring 14 and having a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the ring, and a valve stem 15 fixedly connected at an upper end thereof to a central portion of the valve disc 17 and extending therefrom substantially normal thereto into the upper end of the outlet passage means 13, 14.

The overflow prevention device includes further float means shown as a ball 3 adapted to float in the oil 2 filled in the tank 1, and lever means connecting the float means 3 with the valve means 15, 17. The lever means include a double-armed lever 4 pivotally connected between its ends at 20 to the lower end of a support member 19 preferably fixed at an upper end thereof in any convenient manner to the bottom plate of the valve chamber and extending through an opening formed in the top wall of the tank. The lower end of the double-armed lever 4 is connected in any convenient manner to the float means 3 and the upper end is formed with a slot extending in longitudinal direction of the arm through which a transverse pin fixed to the lower end of the valve stem 15 extends so as to pivotally connect the upper end of the doublearmed lever 4 to the valve stem 15. The right portion of the lever 4, as viewed in FIG. 2 extends through a longitudinal slot 18 formed in the tube 13 into the interior of the latter. Guide means may also be provided to guide the valve stem 15 for vertical movement and this guide means may include a sleeve 16 connected by nar-- row arms to the upper end of the tube 13.

her 5 into the outlet passage means 14, 13 and from there into the tank 1 to slowly fill the same with oil. When the tank is filled with oil 2 as indicated in- FIG. 1, the float 3 will start floating on the oil and as the oil level rises further the float 3 will move through the lever arm 4, the valve means 15, 17 slowly from the upper open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 toward a lower closed position. As the valve plate 17 approaches the upper surfaceof the ring 14, the valve plate will be subjected to the dynamic pressureof the oil flowing through the valve chamber 5 as well as to a certain suction action created by the oil flowing downwardly in the tube 13 and this action of the oil flow will, as the valve plate 17 approaches its closed position, move the valve plate suddenly to its closed position engaging with the lower surface thereof the upper surface of the ring 14 and this sudden movement will lift the float 3 slightly out of the oil 2 in the tank 1.

Oil is usually supplied to the tank 1 from an oil delivery truck from which oil is pumped under pressure through a delivery hose which is substantially fluidtightly connected at its free end in any convenient manner to the upper end of the inlet passage means 6. When the valve means 15, 17 is closed pressure builds up in the valve chamber 5 holding the valve means tightly closed and usually there is a pressure actuated valve in the hose of the delivery truck which during rise of the pressure above a predetermined level shuts off the pump of the truck and stops the supply to the inlet passage means 6. The driver of the truck notices then that the tank is filled to the predetermined level and he will disconnect the supply hose from the inner passage means 6. Thereby the pressure in the valve chamber 5 is relieved so that the valve plate 17 is free to move again towards its open position. Such movement will be accomplished by the action of the float 3, slightly lifted before out of the oil 2 in the tank, which will now sink back to its floating position and thereby slightly lift the valve plate 17. Gil contained in the inlet passage means 6 and in the valve chamber 5 may thus also flow down into the tank 1.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of an overflow prevention device according to the present invention. The overflow prevention device as shown in FIG. 3 comprises a valve chamber 23 preferably of substantially cylindrical configuration and preferably made from sheet steel.

Inlet passage means 24 extend laterally from a side wall portion of the valve chamber 23 and the outerfree end of the inlet passage means 24 is preferably screw threaded so that the free end of the hose of an oil delivery truck may be connected thereto. The bottom wall of the valve chamber 23 is formed with outlet passage means 34 extending centrally in downward direction from the bottom wall and the outlet passage means 34 are screw threaded on the outer surface thereof and screwed into a correspondingly threaded nipple 33 extending upwardly from the tank 1 partly shown in FIG. 3, to thus fixedly mount the valve chamber 23 on the tank 1. The top wall of the valve chamber 23 is formed with an oval opening ing in yoke member 29 which engages with its opposite bottom ends the outer surface of the top wall of the valve chamber 23. A nut 30 is screwed on the threaded free end of the bolt 23 and it is evident that by tightening the nut 30, the flange porfion 26, of the closure member 25 is tightly pressed against the annular sealing member 27 and the latter against the inner surface of the top wall of the valve chamber so that the latter is tightly closed at its upper end.

The overflow prevention device shown in FIG. 3 includes further valve means including a ball 31 of com-' pressible oil resistant material, which in the closed position of the valve means as shown in FIG. 3, rests on the upper end of the outlet passage means 34 so as to close the latter. The diameter of the valve ball 31 is slightly greater than the diameter of the outlet pas-sage means The valve ball 31 is pivotally connected through a rod 33 to the free end of one arm of a doublearmed lever 22, which in turn is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 35 to a bracket 36' fixed, for instance by welding, to the lower end of the outlet passage means 34. The left end, as viewed in FIG. 3, of the double-armed lever 22, is preferably fork-shaped and a connecting rod of a float 21 is pivotally connected by means of a pin to this left end of the double-armed lever 22. In the position shown in FIG. 3 the connecting rod of the float 21 rests with a lower surface thereof on a pin extending transversely through the fork-shaped end of the lever 22. The device shown in FIG. 3 includes further bafiie means 32 shown in FIG. 3 as a baffle plate fixed at a top edge thereof to the top wall of the valve chamber 23 and extending therefrom in downward direction between the inner end of the inlet passage means 24 and the valve ball 31. The bottom edge of the baifle plate 32 is spaced from the bottom wall of the valve chamber and forms a gap therewith so that oil may flow through the gap into the valve chamber 23.

The overflow prevention device illustrated in FIG. 3 will operate in a similar manner as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. When the tank 1 is nearly empty, the float 21 will be suspended in the air and the weight of the float 21 will lift the valve ball 31 to an upper open position located partly in the cavity of the closure member 25. When oil under pressure is now fed through the inlet passage means from an oil delivery truck as described before, the tank 1 will slowly fill with oil'and when the oil reaches a certain level, the float 21 will float on the oil and rise with the rising oil level in the tank to move thereby through the doublearmed lever 22 the valve ball 31 from its upper open towards its lower closed position. When the valve ball '31 approaches its lower closed position it will be subjected to the dynamic pressure of the oil flowing through the valve chamber 23 as Well as to a certain suction action produced by the outflow of the oil from the valve chamber through the outlet passage means 34 and this combined action of the oil on the valve ball 31 will cause, when the valve ball 31 is near its lowermost closed position, a sudden downward movement of the ball 3-1 and press the same against the upper end of the outlet passage means 34 to close the latter. This sudden downward movement of the valve ball 31 will slightly lift the float 21 upwardly out of the oil in the tank 1. Closing .of the valve will cause a build-up of pressure in the valve chamber 23, which in turn will shut off, in the manner as described before, further supply of oil under pressure to the valve chamber. When the pressure in the valve chamber 23 decreases, the float 21 will fall back to the level of the oil surface lifting thereby the valve ball 31 slightly and the remaining oil in the inlet passage means 24 .and the valve chamber 23 may thus flow below the lifted ball 31 through the outlet passage means 34 into the tank 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a further embodiment of an overfiow prevention device according to the present invention. The device shown in FIG. 4 includes a substantially cylindrical valve chamber 47 having an inlet passage means 44 extending laterally from the side wall of the valve chamber 47. The outer free end of the inlet passage means 44 is preferably screw threaded to permit connection of the supply hose of' an oil delivery. truck therethrough in .a manner as described before. Outlet passage means 55 integrally formed with the bottom wall of the valve chamber extend downwardly from a central portion of the latter. The outlet passage means 55 are screw threaded at the outer surface thereof and threaded-1y engaged in an annular flange 53' extending upwardly from a cover of a connecting member 56 connected to the upper portion of a tank 63, only partly shown in FIG. 4. The upper wall of the valve chamber 47 is formed with an oval opening through which the convexly curved portion of a closure member 45 extends. The closure member 45' has a flange portion 46 extending laterally beyond the opening formed in the top wall of the valve chamber 47 and an annular sea-li'rig member 43 is sandwiched between the flange portion 46 and the top wall of the valve chamber. The lower end of a bolt 41 is Welded to a central portion of the closure member 45 extending upwardly therefrom through an opening in the clamping yoke 42, which in turn engages with the bottom ends thereof the outer surface of the top wall of the valve chamber 47. A

nut ttl'is' screwed to the upper threaded end of the bolt 41 extending beyond the clamping yoke 42 so that by tightening the nut 40 the flange portion 46' will be tightly pressed against the annular sealing member 43' and the latter against the inner surface of the top wall of the valve chamber 47 so that the latter is fluidtigh'tly closed at the upper end thereof.

The device includes further valve means including a ball 54' formed from compressible oil resistant material and a connecting rod 57 extends through a bore through the ball 54 and is fixedly connected thereto by the two nuts engaging the ball 54' at diametrically opposite portions. The lower free end of the rod 57 is pivotally connected at 60 to'a double-armed lever 61 which in turn is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to a support member 58 fastened, as for instance by welding, at its upper end to the outlet passage means 55. The left end, as viewed in FIG. 4, of the double-armed lever 61 carries fixedly connected thereto a float 62. The valve ball 54 is preferably formed, asibest shown in FIG. 5, with a peripheral shallow groove 64 located in a substantially vertical plane.

The device includes further baflle means located inthe valve chamber 47 and having a substantially cylindrical wall 48 substantially coaxially arranged with the cylindrical side wall of the valve chamber 47 inwardly spaced therefrom and being connected at an upper edge thereof to' the top wall of the valve chamber 47. The bathe means include further a bottom wall 56 having a downwardly drawn flange portion 51 forming a central opening 52 in the baffle means. The lower edge of the downwardly drawn portion 51 of the'bafile'means is spaced from the bottom wall of thevalve chamber 47 to form a gap therewith so that oil'entering the valve chamber 47 through the inlet passage means 44 will flow through the annular space 49 between the cylindrical walls of valve chamber and baflle means from all sides through the gap formed between the lower edge of the flange portion 51 and the bottom wall of the valve chamber to leave the latter through the outlet passage means 55 when the valve ball 54 is in its upper open position. As can be seen from FIG. 4 the diameter of the valve ball 54 is smaller than the opening 52 in the bottom wall 50 of the baffle means so that the ball 54 can pass with ample clearance through the opening 52.

Of course, the diameter of the ball 54 is greater than the open upper end of the outlet passage means 55.

The overflow prevention device illustrated in FIG. 4 will operate substantially in the same manner as described above in connection with the overflow device shown in FIG. 3. When the tank 63 isnearly empty, the

float will be in a downwardly inclined position and hold the valve ball'54 in an upper open position partly located in the convex upper portion of the closure member 45. If a source of oil under pressure is connected in the manner as described above to the inlet passage means'44, oil will flow through the annular space 49 in' the valve chamberto pass from there from all sides into the outlet passage means 55 andflowdownwardly in the tank 63 to slowly fill the latter. As the oil level in the tank rises, it

will reach the float 62 to move the latter slowly from a' downwardly inclined to a nearly horizontal position and thereby slowly lower the valve ball 54. As the valve ball 54 approaches its lowermost closed position it will be subjected to a considerable suction action of theoil'flowing through the outlet passage means 55 and when the ball 54 will be a certain distance from its lowermost'position, this suction action will suddenly move the valve ball 54'to its lowermost closed position in engagement with the upper end of the outlet passage means 55. This sudden downward movement of the valve ball 54 will cause a slight lifting of the float 62 out of the oil in the tank 63. To reduce the sudden high static pressure which occurs during the sudden seating of the valve ball 54 on the upper end of the outlet passage means 55, a shallow peripheral groove 64 is formed in the valve ball 54 which extends in a substantially vertical plane and which permits, according to the groove depth, a slight oil flow through the closed valve and thus relieves the pressure. As mentioned before, closing of the valve and the resulting pressure in the valve chamber 47 will stop the oil pump of a delivery truck feeding oil into the inlet passage means and as the pressure in the valve chamber 47 decreases, the valve ball 54 will be free to move upwardly again and be thus moved by the float falling back from its lifted to its floating position.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of overflow prevention device differing-from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in overflow prevention device for oil tanks, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

I Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint :of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics' of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaningand range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An overflow prevention device for oil tanks'or the like'comprising, in combination, a valve chamber adapted to be mounted on an oil tank to be filled up to a predetermined level; inlet passage meanscomm'unicatingat one end thereof with said' valve chamber and being adapted to be fluidtightly connected at the other end thereof to a source of oil under pressure; outlet passage means communicating with an upper end thereof with said valve chamber and with a lower end thereof with the tank; valve means in said valve chamber movable from an upper open position spaced from said upper end of said outlet passage means to a lower closed position in en- J gagement with said upper end .of said outletpassage means for closingthe latter; float means in the tank, said float means having a vpredetermined .Weight and being adapted to float von the oil ;in the ,tank when the tank is filled nearly up to said predetermined level; an djslever means connecting said float means [with said valve means for holding said valve means and said: float ,means in substantially balanced position as long as the oil in 1116 :tank ,is far below said predetermined level so ,that {the float oil flow passing through said outlet passage means out of said valve chamber and said predetermined weight of said float means and the active length of saidlever means being-such that said valve means ;in approaching said lower closed position will he suddenly moved by-the suction action. of the oil flow downwardly into engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means thereby closing the latter while fliftingsaid float means to a certain extent out of the oil in the tank, said valve means being held in said closed ,position :by the pressure in the valve chamber as long as said inlet means re mains connected to a source of oil under pressure; and when said pressure is relieved, said yfloat means will sink down and lift said valve means ;from said upper end of said outlet means permitting thereby oil in said valve chamber to flow in the tank.

1-2. An overflow prevention device :for oil tanks or the like comprising, in combination, a valve chamber adapted to be mounted on an oil tank to be filled up to a .predetermined level; inlet passage means communicating at one end thereof with said :valve chamber and being adapted to be fiuidtightly connected at the other end thereof to a source of oil under pressure; outlet passage means communicating with an upper end thereof with said valve chamber and with a lower end thereof with the tank; valve means in said valve chamber including a spaced'from said upper end of said outlet passage means to a lower closed position in engagement with said upper end .of said outlet passage means for closing the latter; float means in the tank, sabid .fl'o'atftneans having a predetermined weight and being adapted to float on the oil in the tank :when .the tank is filled nearly up to said predetermined level; and lever means connecting said float means with said valve means for holding said valve means and said float means in substantially balanced position as long as the oil in the tank is far below said predetermined level so that the float means will not-float on the oil, .for moving said valve means fromgsaid upper open toward said lower closed position when the oil in :the tank approaches said predetermined level and said float means float in the oil, and said valve means being .under the influenceofthe oil flowpassing through said outlet passage means out of said valve chamber and said predetermined weight -of said float means -and the active length of said lever means being'such that said valve means .in approaching said lower closed positions will be suddenly moved by the suction action of the oil flow downwardly into engagement withsa id upper end of sa'id outlet passage means thereby closing the latter while lifting said float means to a certain extent outof the oil float means will sink down and lift said valve means from said upper end of said outlet means permitting thereby oil in said valve chamber toflow in the tank.

3. An overflow prevention device for Oilltanks or-the likecomprising, in combination, a valve chamber adapted to be mounted on an -oil tank to be filled up to a predetermined level; inlet passage meanscOmmunicating at .one ,end thereof ,with said valve chamber and being adapted .to be fluidtightly rpconneoted .at :the other end thereof to a source of oil under ,pressure; outlet passage means communicating with an upper .endtherepf with said valve chamber and with a ,lovver.end thereof ,with the tank; valve means .in said valvefchamber includinga flat valve disc .movable .from an topper ,open position spaced from said upperendrof said outlet passage means to ,a lower closed position ,in iengagemerrt'lwi-th-said--upper end of said outlet passage means forclosing the latter and a valve stem fixedly connected at an upper end thereof to said valve. disc and extending in substantially vertical direction downwardly therefrom; -guide means in ,said outlet passage tmeans ,-for sliding:ly guid ing said valve stem in axial direction; float means in, the ,tank, said .float means having a predetermined weight :and being adapted to float on the oilinqthe tank whenthe'tank is filled ,nearly up to said predetenmined level; and lever meansincluding a doublerarmed lever pivotally supported intermediate its 'ends. and connected ,at vone {end thereof to said valve stem and at the other ,endthereof to said float means for holding said valve -means-and sa'id float means in substantially balanced position ias long as the oil in the tank is far below said predetermined level so th21t th floatmeanswwill IlOtjfiDQtuQl'l Ih'0ll, fQr movin said valve means from said upper [open toward said lower-closed position when the Oil in the tank approaches said predetermined level and said ;fl oa t meansqfloatjnthe oil, and-said valvemeans being under the -;influen ce efi thle oil flow passing through said outlet passage means out of said-valve chamber and said predetermined weightgof said float meansand the activelength ofsaid lever-means being such that said valve means ;in zepproaching :said lower closed position will besuddenly movediby thesuotion action of the oil flow ,tdownvtardly into engagement with saidupper endof said outlet passagermeansthereby os ng t la r while lifting :said iflQa-t :means :'..to is certain extent outpf the oilin the tank,,said valve means being held in said closed position by thexpressure in the fiat valve disc movable from an upper :open position valve chamber as long as said inlet .InQfi s remains :connected to a source of oil under pressure, and hen said pressureis relieved, said floatmeans will sinkrd'own .and

,lift said valvemeans'fromsaid upperendloftsaid outlet connected at the other end :thereof to a source .of ioil ,under pressure; outlet passage means including a Ering' of oil-resistant material-arrangedinsaidavalve chamberabout an opening formed in w aidlbo tom wall andzhavingan pp and orm ng a ese anda conduit extending ownward y -from1sa d l p n lngvi'n o thetank; valvemeans in said .valve chamber including a flatvalve disc ;mov-

able-from an upper open positionspaced from saidrupper end of-said outlet passagemeans to a'-lower.,closed;position in engagementwith said upper .end of saidaoutlet passage means .for closing the latter and a valve stem fixedly ,connectedat .an upperend thereof tosaidvalve disc and extending in substantially vertical direction downwardly therefrom; guide means in said .outlet passage means .for slidingly guiding said valve stemin ,axial direction; float means in the ,tank, saidfloat meansjhaving a predetermined weight andbeing adapted to float on the oil inthe tank when the tank is filled nearly up to said predetermined level; and lever means including a double-armed lever pivotally supportedintermediate its ends and connected atone end thereof'to'said valve stem and at the other end thereof to said float means for holding said valve means and said float means in substantially balanced position as long as the oil in the tank is far below said predetermined level so that the float means will not float on the oil, for moving said valve means from said upper open toward said lower closed position when the oil in the tank approaches said predetermined level and said float means float in the oil, and said valve means being under the influence of the oil flow passing through said outlet passage means out of said valve chamber and said predetermined weight of said float means and the active length of said lever means being such that said valve means in approaching said lower closed position will be suddenly moved by the suction action of the oil flow downwardly into engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means thereby closing the latter while lifting said float means to a certain extent out of the oil in the tank, said valve means being held in said closed position by the pressure in the valve chamber as long as said inlet means remains connected to a source of oil under pressure, and when said pressure is relieved, said float means will sink down and lift said valve means from said upper end of said outlet means permitting thereby oil in said valve chamber to flow in the tank.

5. An overflow prevention device for oil tanks or the like comprising, in combination, a valve chamber adapted to be mounted on an oil tank to be filled up to a predetermined level; inlet passage means Communicating at one end thereof with said valve chamber and being adapted to be fluidtightly connected at the other end thereof to a source of oil under pressure; outlet passage means communicating with an upper substantially circular open end thereof with said valve chamber and with a lower end thereof with the tank; valve means in said valve chamber and including a ball having a diameter greater than that of said circular open upper end of said outlet passage means and being movable from an upper open position spaced from said upper end of said outlet passage means to a lower closed position in engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means for 'closing the latter; float means in the tank, said float means having a predetermined weight and being adapted to float on the oil in the tank when the tank is filled nearly up to said predetermined level; and lever means connecting said float means with said valve means for holding said valve means and said float means in substantially balanced position as long as the oil in the tank is far below said predetermined level so that the float means will not float on the oil, for moving said valve means from said upper open toward said lower closed position when the oil in the tank approaches said predetermined level and said float means float in the oil, and said valve means being under the influence of the oil flow passing through said outlet passage means out of said valve chamber and said predetermined weight of said float means and the active length of said lever means being such that said valve means in approaching said lower closed position will be suddenly moved by the suction action of the oil flow downwardly into engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means thereby closing the latter while lifting said float means to a certain extent out of the oil in the tank, said valve means being held in said closed position by the pressure in the valve chamber as long as said inlet means remains connected to a source of oil under pressure, and when said pressure is relieved, said float means will sink down and lift said valve means from said upper end of said outlet means permitting thereby oil in said valve chamber to flow in the tank.

6. An overflow prevention device as set forth in claim 5 in which said ball is made from compressible oil-resistant material.

7. An overflow prevention device as set forth in claim 6 in which said ball is formed with a shallow peripheral groove extending in a substantially vertical plane.

8. An overflow prevention device for oil tanks or the like comprising, in combination, a valve chamber adapted to be mounted on an oil tank to be filled up to a predetermined level; inlet passage means communicating at one end thereof with said valve chamber and being adapted to be fluidtightly connected at the other end thereof to a source of oil under pressure; outlet passage means communicating with an upper substantially circular open end thereof with said valve chamber and with a lower end thereof with the tank; valve means in said valve chamber and including a ball having a diameter greater than that of said circular open upper end of said outlet passage means and being movable from an upper open position spaced from said upper end of said outlet passage means to a lower closed position in engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means for closing the latter; baflle means in said valve chamber between said inlet passage means and said ball, said baffle means being connected at an upper edge thereof to said valve chamber while the lower edge thereof forms a gap with a bottom portion of said valve chamber for directing and accelerating the flow of oil from said inlet means toward said upper end of said outlet means; float means in the tank, said float means having a predetermined weight and being adapted to float on the oil in the tank when the tank is filled nearly up to said predetermined level; and lever means connecting said float means with said valve means for holding said valve means and said float means in substantially balanced position as long as the oil in the tank is far below said predetermined level so that the float means will not float on the oil, for moving said valve means from said upper open toward said lower closed position when the oil in the tank approaches said predetermined level and said float means float in the oil, and said valve means being under the influence of the accelerated oil flow passing through said outlet passage means out of said valve chamber and said predetermined weight of said float means and the active length of said lever means being such that said valve means in approaching said lower 'closed position Will be suddenly moved by the suction action of the oil flow downwardly into engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means thereby closing the latter while lifting said float means to a certain extent out of the oil in the tank, said valve means being 'held in said closed position by the pressure in the valve chamber as long as said inlet means remains connected to a source of oil under pressure, and when said pressure is relieved, said float means will sink down and lift said valve means from said upper end of said outlet means permitting thereby oil in said valve chamber to flow in the tank.

9. An overflow prevention device for oil tanks or the like comprising, in combination, a valve chamber adapted to be mounted on an oil tank to be filled up to a predetermined level, said valve chamber having a top wall, a bottom wall and a substantially cylindrical side wall extending between said top and bottom walls; inlet passage means communicating at one end thereof with said valve chamber and being adapted to be fluidtightly connected at the other end thereof to a source of oil under pressure; baflle means in said valve chamber and having a cylindrical wall substantially coaxially arranged with said cylindrical side wall of said valve chamber inwardly spaced therefrom and being connected at an upper edge thereof to said top Wall and said baflie means having a bottom wall spaced from said bottom wall of said valve chamber for directing and accelerating the flow of oil from said inlet means toward said upper end of said outlet means, said bottom wall being formed with a substantially central opening therein; outlet passage means communicating with said valve chamber with a substantially circular open upper end substantially coaxially arranged with movable from an upper open position at least partly located in said baifle' means and spaced from said upper end of said outlet passage meansto a lower closed position in engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means for closing the latter; float means in the tank, said float means having a predetermined weight and being adapted to float on the oil in the tank when the tank is filled nearly up to said predetermined level; and lever means connecting said float meanswith said valve means for gholdingsaid valve means and said float means in substantially balanced position as long as the oil in the tank is far below said predetermined level so that the float means will not float on the oil, for moving said valve means from said upper open toward said lower closed position when the oil in the .tank approaches said predetermined level and said float means float in the oil, and said valve means beingrunder the influenceof the oil flow passing through said outlet passage means out of said valve chamber and said predetermined weight of said float means and the active length of said lever means being such that said valve means in approaching said lower closed position will be suddenly moved by the suction action of the oil flow downwardly into engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means thereby closing the latter while lifting said float means to a certain extent out of the oil in the tank, said valve means being held in said closed position by the pressure in the valve chamber as long as said inlet means remains connected to a source of oil under pressure, and when said pressure is relieved, said float means will sink down and lift said valve means from said upper end of said outlet means permitting thereby oil in said valve chamber to flow in the tank.

10. An overflow prevention device as set forth in claim in which said valve chamber includes a top wall formed with an upwardly extending substantially hemi spherical cavity in which an upper portion of said ball is located when said valve means is in said upper open position.

11. An overflow prevention device as set forth in' claim 5 in which said valve chamber includes a top wall formed with an oval opening; a closure member for closing said opening and having a flange portion extending beneath said top wall about said opening and an upwardly curved portion of substantially hemispherical configuration inwardly of said flange portion and extending outwardly through said opening; annular sealing means sandwiched between said flange portion and said top Wall about said opening; and releasable connecting means engaging said top wall and said closure member for pressing said flange portion of the latter against said sealing means and said sealing means against said top wall.

12. An overflow prevention device as set forth in claim 11 in which said releasable connecting means includes a yoke member engaging with opposite ends thereof the outer surface of said top wall of said valve chamber; a bolt fastened at one end to said closure member and projecting upwardly therefrom through an opening in said yoke member; and a nut screwed on the free end of said bolt. 7

13. An overflow prevention device comprising, in combination, an oil tank to be filled up to a predetermined level, said oil tank having a top Wall being formed with an inlet opening; a valve chamber adapted to be mounted on said oil tank over said inlet opening; inlet passage means communicating at one end thereof with said valve chamber and being adapted to be fluidtightly connected at the other end therof to a source of oil under pressure; outlet passage means communicating with an upper end thereof with said valve chamber and with a lower end upper end of said-outlet passage means for closing the latter; bafllemeans in said valve chamber between said inlet pas-sage means and said valve means, said baflie 'meansbeing connected at an upper edge thereof to said valve chamber while the lower edge thereof forms a gap with a bottom portion of said valve chamberfordirecting and accelerating the flow of oil from said inlet means toward said upper end of said outlet means;float means in the tank, said float means having a predetermined weight and being-adapted 'to float on the oil in said tan-k when said tank is filled near-1y up to its predetermined level; and lever means connecting said float means with said valve means for holding said valve means and said float means in substantially balanced position as long as the oil in the tank is far'below said predetermined level so that the float means will not floatonthe oil, for movzit gg ,Said valve means-from said upper open toward said lower closed position when the oil in the tank approaches said predetermined level and said float means float on the oil, and said valve means being under the influence of the oil flow passing through said outlet passage means out of said valve chamber, and said predetermined weight of said float means and the activelength of said lever. means being such that said valve means in approaching said lower closed position will be suddenly moved by the suction action of the oil flow downwardly into engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means thereby closing the latter while lifting said float means to a certain extent out of the oil in the tank, said valve means being held in a said closed position by the pressure in the valve chamber as long as said inlet means remains connected to a source of oil under pressure, and when said pressure is relieved, said float means will sink down and lift said valve means from said upper end of said outlet means permitting oil in said valve chamber to flow into the tank.

14. An overflow prevention device for oil tanks or the like comprising, in combination, a valve chamber having a bottom wall and side walls and adapted to be mounted on an oil tank to be filled up to a predetermined level; inlet passage means communicating at one end thereof with said valve chamber and being adapted to be fluid tightly connected at the other end thereof to a source of oil under pressure; outlet passage means communicating with an upper end thereof with said valve chamber and wit-h a lower end thereof with a tank; valve means having an upper portion and a lower portion in said valv chamber and being movable from an upper open position where said lower portion is spaced from said upper end of said outlet passage means to a lower closed position where said lower portion is in engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means for closing the latter; baflie means in said valve chamber between said inlet passage means and said valve means, said baifle means being connected at an upper edge thereof to said valve chamber while the lower edge thereof forms a gap with said bottom wall of said valve chamber for directing and accelerating the flow of oil from said inlet means toward said lower portion of said valve means at least whenever said valve means are approaching said lower closed position, said upper portion of said valve means being located behind said baifle means above said lower edge thereof when said valve means is .in said upper open position and at least a part of said upper portion of said valve means being located above said lower edge of said baffle means when said valve means is in said lower closed position, so that said baflie means at all times shields at least a part of said upper portion of said valve means from the direct flow of oil from said inlet passage means; float means in the tank, said float means having a predetermined weight and being adapted to float on the oil in the tank when the tank is filled nearly up to said predetermined level; and lever means connecting said float means Wit-l1 said valve means for holding said valve means and said float means in substantially balanced positioned as long as the oil in the tank is far below said predetermined level so that the float means will not float on the oil, for moving said valve means from said upper open end toward saidtlower closed position when the oil in the tank approaches said predetermined level and said float means float in the oil, said valve means being under the influence of the oil flow passing through said outlet passage means out of said valve chamber and said predetermined weight of said float means and the active length of said lever means being such that said valve means in approaching said lower closed position will he suddenly moved by the suction action of the oil fiow downwardly into engagement with said upper end of said outlet passage means thereby closing the latter while lifting said float means to a certain extent out of the oil in the tank, said valve means being held in said closed position by the pressure in the valve chamber as long as said inlet means remains connected to a source of oil under pressure, and when said pressure is relieved, said fioat means will sink down and lifit said valve means from Cir in said upper end of said outlet means permitting thereby oil in said valve chamber to how into the tank.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 487,671 12/92 Hunter 137437 1,037,638 9/12 Kivell 137437 1,044,311 11/1 2 Wall 137-449 XR 1,097,476 5/ 14 Scott 137449 XR 1,551,808 9/2-5 Dixon 137-449 1,623,374 4/27 Anderson 137-449 1,796,443 3/31 Costa 137-449 2,550,313 4/5 1 Tucker 137435 XR 2,840,102 6/58 Richter 251-368 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,030,893 1/5 1 France.

10,454 7/84 Great Britain. 10,856 8/86 Great Britain.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D, GEIGER, Examiner. 

1. AN OVERFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE FOR OIL TANKS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A VALVE CHAMBER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON AN OIL TANK TO BE FILLED UP TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL; INLET PASSAGE MEANS COMMUNICATING AT ONE END THEREOF WITH SAID VALVE CHAMBER AND BEING ADAPTED TO BE FLUIDTIGHTLY CONNECTED AT THE OTHER END THEREOF TO A SOURCE OF THE OIL UNDER PRESSURE; OUTLET PASSAGE MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH AN UPPER END THEREOF WITH SAID VALVE CHAMBER AND WITH A LOWER END THEREOF WITH THE TANK; VALVE MEANS IN SAID VALVE CHAMBER MOVABLE FROM AN UPPER END POSITION SPACED FROM SAID UPPER END OF SAID OUTLET PASSAGE MEANS TO A LOWER CLOSED POSITION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID UPPER END OF SAID OUTLET PASSAGE MEANS FOR CLOSING THE LATTER; FLOAT MEANS IN THE TANK, SAID FLOAT MEANS HAVING A PREDETERMINED WEIGHT AND BEING ADAPTED TO FLOAT ON THE OIL IN THE TANK WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED NEARLY UP TO SAID PREDETERMINED LEVEL; AND LEVER MEANS CONNECTING SAID FLOAT MEANS WITH SAID VALVE MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID VALVE MEANS AND SAID FLOAT MEANS IN SUBSTANTIALLY BALANCED POSITION AS LONG AS THE OIL IN THE TANK IS FAR BELOW SAID PREDETERMINED LEVEL SO THAT THE FLOAT MEANS WILL NOT FLOAT ON THE OIL, FOR MOVING SAID VALVE 